Santa is coming to town in Goldendale
From Washington Gorge Action Programs:
By Tammy Kaufman
Goldendale, WA. November 29, 2022 – Santa is at the top of the list for Family Holiday Night on Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Goldendale Grange Hall. The free event is open to all and will include ornament and cookie decorating and making a marshmallow snowman.
December’s Santa event and other family fun activities have been organized by the Coalition for Preventing Abuse in Klickitat County (CPAKC) and the Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) Housing office in Goldendale this year.
“We began this series of fun activities in July,” said Sunday Sutton, coordinator for CPAKC. “We wanted to offer more things for parents to do with their children in a family-friendly environment that encourages positive interactions.”
Nights for Bingo, games, painting, and movies have been some of the offerings. The group also held a community breakfast in September and had a night with fall festivities, which included costumes, spooky games, and free pumpkins.
“These types of activities serve as a way for individuals, youth, and families to connect with one another,” Sutton said. “We want them to have opportunities to bond in a safe space.”
Additional partners have included the Fort Vancouver Regional Library and the Ross Foundation, along with individual community members who have helped to fund activities. Goldendale Market Fresh also helped to keep participants happy by providing free pumpkins during the fall festivities. Recent additions to the donor team are Amerigroup and Goldendale Pharmacy.
“We are so appreciative of our donors,” Sutton said. “Their participation is vital to the continuation of these events.”
When asked what got this series started, Sutton responded that there is a lot of research and science behind the importance of community connections. It is a protective factor in helping youth make healthy decisions. Bonding with family is another protective factor in reducing youth risks. Community connection is also a protective factor for adults. “We all want to feel connected and accepted,” she said.
“It’s really about heart,” she said. “We want all families to have opportunities to connect. Individuals who care enough to be there can make a big positive impact on the lives of children and their parents.”
Sutton hopes CPAKC and WAGAP can continue the monthly tradition with a little help from their Goldendale neighbors. “It takes a village,” she said as she offered her thanks to all the event volunteers. Anyone interested in donating or volunteering to be part of the family fun series can contact CPAKC at (509) 281-2330 or email sunday@wagap.org.
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Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Action Agency that helps individuals, families, and communities. WAGAP addresses basic human needs, including food, shelter, energy assistance, and more, in Skamania and Klickitat Counties. For more than 50 years, WAGAP has helped people help themselves and reach self-sufficiency. Learn more at wagap.org, or contact WAGAP at (509) 493-2662 or info@wagap.org.
